Character Castle 2.0
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wait… so, did Airu attack Jade, or attack herself? sorry, I probably should be able to read between the lines, but my mind’s apparently not working right now.
Oh, she killed herself. Sorry if that was confusing.
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!And for a bit of context, Airu was Jade’s cousin, and they were very close.
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!@everyone, is there anything I need to know before jumping into this challenge? The dance is over, there was a feast and a forced clothes change, and there are a few new characters. Is there anything really important I’m missing?
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comNo, that sounds like everything. A few characters have gone through the challenge: Ku, Abirami, and Jade.
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!Mr.Trip Williams wrote:
I apologize for not giving a warning. You all are right. I should have seen that.It’s ok! I think it’s actually a good thing we all had this discussion because it looks like there’s actually a lot of pretty horrifying worst regrets…at least, more than I expected
Mr.Trip Williams wrote:
I think part of it is because previous posts from Ku connected with you guys and by this time, you guys know Ku and her character… she crept into your hearts… and then I hit you with that… sorry.Huh. I never thought about that, but it makes a lot of sense! I’m not sure quite what it is, but something about the way you write Ku makes her feel so real and human. I just can’t help but connect with her, even though as a concept she’s incredibly foreign to me. I think Ku is also just an incredibly realistic character in terms of her backstory and worldview. Like you said…this kind of trauma really does make perfect sense for her backstory and worldview. I think that many of have “seen” Ku in the real world, whether it be through people we know, stories we hear about, etc. And so I think part of that was kind of recognizing that realism in her character all along, not knowing quite where it came from…and then all of a sudden it just hit “too” close to home for a fantasy character. “Too” close meaning closer than we expected, not meaning that it’s a bad thing. Again, this is a SUPER taboo topic, and I’m honestly so glad that you’re willing to portray it in the full weight, horror, and ugliness that it merits.
I also wanted to tell you that I really, really appreciate your sensitivity to our concerns! I was actually kind of…I don’t want to say scared…but I guess kind of nervous bringing it up because I’ve seen a lot of backlash in some more conservative circles to people who bring up the idea of trigger warnings. Of course, there’s people who take this idea too far as well, but in general I think there’s a lot of merit to the concept. Also I’ve had experiences where guys sometimes aren’t willing to try to see and think about these kinds of topics from our perspective, so I really do appreciate that you’re so ready and willing to listen to our concerns 🙂
*laughs as one fey*
ALSO
A friend of @rose-colored-fancy and I made this petition involving Rose’s poor character Gav (some of you may remember him and Liorah) and Kit’s ever-suffering eldest brother Eli, as well as one of her own stressed and suffering characters XD
It’s just for fun, obviously, but here it is if anyone wants to take a look XD
*laughs as one fey*
@everyone
Are we doing the deepest regret revealing in any order? It currently seems to be Ku, then those involved in the dance. Are they going first then everyone else at random?
A long-hidden tale may hold the answers-and the healing-they so desperately seek.
~Set the Stars AlightIdk I’m writing a psychotic breakdown of one of my absolute favorite characters in the other castle rn…(if only I were exaggerating…😑)
To be a light to the world you must shine in the darkness.
Uhhh, I don’t think I need a trigger warning??? Somebody dies, but it isn’t graphic.
Avin
It was his turn, next. He knew before he heard his name. But which regret did the castle want? With a whole life full of them, how was he to choose what he regretted most? There was one long, agonizing moment of where the whole room was silent–silent, except for Jade’s muffled sobs, and the choking sound of Ku, trying to hold back her tears.
“Avin Merrlesby, alias Duke of Westlyn.”
That was low.
The cords fell off his wrists, and the screen lit up once more.
10
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.
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9
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8
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.
.
Avin stood up. “You can stop your pictures,” he said quietly. “Nobody wants to see them here; not even me.”
A deathly quiet settled, quieter even than before. The screen still blinked the countdown, but Avin wouldn’t notice. He cocked an eye at the screen to make sure he knew what number flashed, and started. It was almost unbelievably hard to take that first deep breath–like fighting a whole army of weight off his chest.
3
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.
.
2
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.
.
“It was in the orphanage. You wouldn’t know the name. He was–so small!” images of Will flashed through his mind. “Billy” the other orphans had called him, but he told Avin he preferred Will. His parents had called him that. His hair was as pure gold and curly as Avin’s was muddy brown and straight. His fresh little eyes!
“Blue as forget-me-nots, before the sun has bleached them.” he said the last part grimly, knowing the story he told would show the dawn of that cursed sun that bleached the childish innocence out of them.
“He was too delicate to survive in many of the normal orphanages, maybe even a rich man’s orphanage, but here–”
He broke off, hating his voice for wobbling.
“He never had a chance in ours. Most of the boys called him ninny for being so fresh and fragile. Maybe that’s why he came to me.”
Avin shook his head. “I wanted to leave with him. I knew it was right, but I was–afraid.” His hands curled into fists without him willing them to, and the scars on his back ached. They had ached so much more then, he could hardly blame himself for being afraid to risk getting more.
Best make it short. Nobody wants this to be longer than it has to.
“He was too small and timid to go by himself and…” the words would have to be said sometime. “He died.” The memory that had been forever seared into his mind flashed out fresh. Will’s curly head leaning on Avin’s lap; his blue eyes, so clear they were almost transparent, staring up into his face, without the least reproach, but so full of pain Avin could almost feel it, reaching across time and memory into his soul. That sweet little childish voice lisping. “After that I left.” He hated himself almost more for leaving after Will died than for staying while he was alive. Not man enough to go or stay.
Avin clenched his fists.
The screen flashed and went dark and relief washed over him. He wouldn’t have to tell the other one, the one that still hurt too much to think of.
He stepped forward to where Jade was leaning on her desk, her shoulders still shaking. He knew she didn’t want to be touched, so he just stood; near enough for her to feel that he was there, but far enough that she wouldn’t feel trapped.
that was probably not actually his greatest regret, and I don’t even know if it happened that way, but it was fun to write. 🙂 @e-n-leonard if you wanna interact, Avin’s there. If not, that’s great, too!
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com@lady-grace if there is any order, I just completely ignored it. 😀
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comGood job! First person to actually say his regret.
I think Yarrow will try, but will only know part of his deepest regret… I’m still trying to figure out the details.if there is any order, I just completely ignored it. 😀
😂
A long-hidden tale may hold the answers-and the healing-they so desperately seek.
~Set the Stars AlightThere is not really any order, I just knew that Jade would notice the pattern of who went when, so she questioned if there was an order. And then C. Leonard picked up on it.
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!Me trying to get Isaias to tell me his deepest regret (he took way longer than Jade to figure out):
Me: Isaias?
Isaias: Eh?
Me: What’s your deepest regret?
Isaias: *in a singsong voice* I live with no re-grets and fist bump ev-er-y day! *starts dancing*
Me: *facepalms* Isaias, could you please be serious?
Isaias: *keeps dancing*
Me: Why do you help the Culled?
Isaias: Cause they need it.
Me: *narrows eyes suspiciously*
And when he finally told me, he started yelling. Now I can write it, though 🙂
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!Jade
Jade sensed someone standing behind her and shifted uncomfortably. It was probably Avin since the Castle had allowed him to stand and move. What did he want? She stopped crying, but she didn’t turn around to snap at him. She couldn’t do that to another who carried the guilt of death. Jade discreetly rubbed her face on her arms, which were once more covered in the familiar black uniform fabric of the Haven. She raised her head, turning to look at him.
The clenched fists, the look of self-loathing — Jade saw all this before it fled away. She couldn’t tell someone like this to back off.
”You okay?” she asked.
Avin said, “I’m —“
”Isaias Baum, son of the Farmers Baum of Benevola Haven: divulge your deepest regret,” the Castle cut off Avin’s reply.
Isaias jumped up out of his seat and came to Jade. “Are you alright?” he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
”I’m fine!” What did he want from her? Moral support? Jade sighed. It was the least she could do, so she didn’t push him away.
”You don’t need to continue with the countdown,” said Isaias. “Don’tchya know I’m going to tell you? Well, this is what I regret: I’m a coward!” His voice rose to a shout. “People think I’m risking my neck to help others. Know what? It’s nothing! Nothing! I feed the Culled and give them kind words and let them die. I let the Benevolents send more to their deaths without lifting a finger against them. I’ve done nothing! And I even let people praise me for it,” he said bitterly. “That’s what I regret.”
Jade looked up at him in confusion. How was helping the Culled doing nothing for them? They could hardly expect him to change the society or attack the Benevolents. That would be stupid. Suicidal. She glanced at Avin, wondering if he could help her explain this to Isaias.
”Isaias,” she said, “you’re not a coward.”
He sighed in exasperation.
”You stood up for Rosemary.”
“Like that did any good.”
”You still did it, you idiot!” Jade put her hand over her mouth. She looked pointedly at Avin. He might be able to say something without insults coming out. They rather detracted from her argument, after all.
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!@everyone
Hey y’all, I just wanted to say I’ll be pulling Ophelia and Cal and taking a bit of the break from the castle! Life has just been getting in the way, and everything is a bit overwhelming, and this is the thing I can pause without it making too much impact!
As for Ophelia and Cal, both of them have kind of gotten stuck. They’ve reached the point where I can’t develop them independently from plot anymore, so I have to wait a while for the plot to catch up!
I have two less developed characters I’ll probably be dropping in after the break, so that’ll be fun!
I’ll still be reading along with everything, and possibly commenting on some stuff, because I’m really invested in all these characters and it’s just really fun to read! I hope to come back to the castle pretty soon, I just need a break 😅
Thanks for understanding!
Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?
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